Russian Language and Literature

This online course is ideal preparation for students thinking of studying Russian at university and who may never have studied it at school, providing a flavour of Russian language, literature, and culture.

This online course is ideal preparation for students thinking of studying Russian at university and who may never have studied it at school, providing a flavour of Russian language, literature, and culture.

Course Summary

This course includes:

4 X Interactive Tutorials

Online quizzes and exams

Access to the course discussion forum

Course worksheets and case studies

ORA Certificate of completion

Overview

Learning Russian not only opens the doors to a new language but also to an exciting and varied culture, one with a proud history and heritage. This course follows the pattern of many university languages degrees by offering an introduction to the Russian language and alphabet combined with a discussion of Russian literature, focusing on famous writers such as Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Dostoyevsky.

The course starts with the Russian language, introducing students to the Cyrillic alphabet, its similarities with and differences to the Roman alphabet, and how the letters are pronounced. Some basic words and phrases are introduced along with some simple conjugation, and students are encouraged to learn how to read these out loud with correct pronunciation, which can be a challenge task for the novice! Our goal is to equip students with the confidence they need to apply to study the Russian language at university. The second part of the course looks at 19th and 20th-century literature in turn, exploring some of the great authors of these periods and their works. Students will also be encouraged to consider the differences between the two centuries – which were considerable given the social and political upheaval of the early 20th century following the Russian Revolution.

The overall aim of the course is to provide a flavour of Russia – its culture, language, literature, politics, and more – to students who may not be acquainted with this vast and varied nation, and to set them on the path for further study at university and beyond.

This first tutorial introduces students to Russia and its vast territory and culture. It familiarises students with well-known Russian figures, objects and symbols, landmarks, and geography, whilst also introducing them to the Cyrillic alphabet and a few basic Russian words and phrases. University study of Russian is also discussed, such as the typical balance of language and literature, which this course hopes to emulate.

Tutorial 2 is dedicated to the Russian language, but don't worry - it is aimed at beginners or those who have never encountered the language before! It runs through some basic grammatical structures, useful words and phrases, and hones students' ability to pronounce and read the Russian alphabet. A range of exercises throughout helps to consolidate the material covered, the aim being to give students confidence to pursue their studies of Russian further.

This tutorial moves away from language to focus on Russian literature, introducing students to some key 19th-century Russian authors and their works, including Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and Chekhov. For each author we look at the key events in their life and at a case study of the works most often studied at university. In addition to discussing the classic works, mention will also be made of some shorter, more accessible works, such as the short stories of Chekhov and Tolstoy.

Our second tutorial on literature, and the final tutorial of the course, looks at the 20th century, which provides a stark contrast to that studied in tutorial 3. Life and literature had changed dramatically in Russia after 1917, and this tutorial explores the dramatic cultural changes in Soviet Russia that took place at this time before discussing three major authors and a key text by each: Mikhail Bulgakov's masterpiece "The Master and Margarita", the poet Anna Akhmatova's poem "Requiem" (to the victims of Stalinism) and finally dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novella "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich".

Key Details

Course Pre-requisites

Advanced level of EnglishAn enthusiasm for languages and literature.

Course Level

For students interested in embarking on studies in Russian language, literature, and culture, in particular those looking to study Russian as part of a university course.

Difficulty

Moderate

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required to take this course, just enthusiasm for the subject.

understand the Cyrilic alphabet and a number of basic Russian phrases and vocabulary

gain key knowledge of Russian society and culture, and the historical roots of this culture

obtain an appreciation of the works of some of the great Russian authors of the 19th and 20th centuries

discuss the major works of some of the most important writers and poets of Russian literature

place the literature of 19th and 20th century Russia in its historical context

Course Author

Annabelle Chapman MSc

Annabelle Chapman is a DPhil candidate at Oxford University, researching the postwar history of Central Europe. She has a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and a Masters (MSc) in Russian and East European Studies, both from the University of Oxford. Other interests include languages and the history of cinema.

Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, UK company number 6045196. The company contracts with institutions including Oxford University for the use of their facilities and also contracts with tutors from those institutions but does not operate under the aegis of Oxford University.

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